UNIVERSITIES CAN SET STAGE FOR INDUSTRY 5.0

Higher education must evolve into innovation hubs that fuse creativity, ethics, and technology

- BY BASSAM ALAMEDDINE | Special to Gulf News

Rarely has the task of aligning higher education with industry needs been as demanding as it is today.

The unprecedented speed and scope of digital transformation, driven by artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced connectivity, are reshaping industries at a scale that requires universities to rethink how they prepare graduates for the future of work.

Over the past two centuries, industrial revolutions have profoundly shaped industries, economies and societies. Industry 4.0, which was marked by automation, data integration and the internet of Things, reshaped global production systems. Yet, we now stand at the dawn of Industry 5.0, arguably the most transformative shift of all, where the defining feature is not technology alone, but the collaboration between humans and digital agents. Unlike its predecessors, Industry 5.0 is centred on creating not just more efficient industries but more sustainable and human-centred societies.

The distinction between Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 lies in the transition from primarily automated processes to a human-centred model. In Industry 5.0, digital agents and artificial intelligence serve as enablers while human creativity, emotional intelligence and critical thinking assume leadership. This new paradigm is built upon:

■ Human-digital agent collaboration, where technology augments rather than replaces people.

■ Decentralised decision-making, allowing flexible and adaptive systems.